Day 181 - Ubatuba

I decided to take a mini beach trip this morning because the only beaches I've been to are in Rio. There are a lot of beaches ~2 hrs from Sao Jose do Campos, today I checked out a couple of the beaches at Ubatuba. The drive was just amazing, so beautiful. I've heard the traffic can be horrendous since there's just one little mountain road to get there but I left at 7am and started back around 11:15 am and it was really light. I'm sure if I had waited a couple of hours it would have been heavier. I'm excited Cheryl and I are going back here when she comes in April, I can't wait for her to see it. Hopefully she'll take some pics for you then ;)

The last part of the drive is a really, really steep grade to get from mountain level to beach level. I haven't driven any tiny steep winding roads like this since I drove through Rocky Mountain National Park... and even then I'm pretty sure the curves weren't as tight. A lot of them were basically u-turns. Going down, I'm pretty sure the guy in front of me was not shifting down as much as he should have been, because there was smoke coming from his brakes (lots of places to pull off, don't worry, I was watching him, Mom & Cheryl). On the way back up I was happy it was a beautiful day because I never would have made it up with my a/c running. We're talking 1st & 2nd gears only people. Still, the scenary was stunning. I wouldn't do that drive in dark or rain though for sure. And I'm not sure I can imagine it with the terrible traffic. If I had to stop going up that incline... holy schnikes.

The first beach I hit was a little off the beaten path - Praia Itamambuca. The road to get there was pack dirt and it was easily the bumpiest road I've ever been on. I literally had to slow down to a crawl because I was about to throw up from bouncing around. But the beach was gorgeous, so it was worth it. I read online they have surfing competitions at this beach and I believe it, there were a lot of people surfing.

I haven't shopped for bathing suits here, but I'm pretty sure full-butt coverage is not even an option. Regardless of size/shape.

Next I went to was closer to Centro so there were a lot more people. I just walked around here for a few minutes (well I drank some agua straight from the coco of course too). 

This does not seem hygenic.

On the way back (after surviving the crawl up the mountain) I stopped for a misto quente at this cute little place.

My hair is cra-zy. Combo of sunblock & driving with windows down I guess. 

Day 176 - Serra Negra

So you probably know last weekend was Carnaval... I'm mildly ashamed to say that I didn't get involved in any of that business. But I did enjoy my 4-day weekend, including a trip to Serra Negra with my friends that you are now so familiar with - Jackie, Rafael, and Akemi! We had such a fun day, I loved it!

On the way there we took a wrong turn and ended up on this crazy little dirt road for a couple of miles. I sang a little Deliverance but they didn't get it ;) I loved it though, we saw some beautiful views. Please note that Stanley joined us on this excursion, Akemi loved him!

Serra Negra is this cute town that reminded me a bit of Gatlinburg. We took a little ride around the town...

We took a chair lift up this mountain that had a mini-Christo

There was some fun Carnaval music

We drank some water from this mountain spring

Days 151- 181 Random Stuff

Ge and Rafa (work buds) helped me do some lunchtime shopping in Aruja - Rafa noticed this delightful China import. I bought it, it was so funny to me. Please note Minnie's eyes... it's horrible. Word on the street is that stuff from Paraguay is even worse in quality than China... I haven't witnessed this first hand but I'm on the lookout.

I don't know what these little guys are called but I like them. You can't see it here but they have one feather that is like a little ponytail on the back of their heads.

I got a visitor all the way from SC! I was so excited when my Julia's Flat Stanley arrived. We've had a good time!

This is the joint a few blocks from my apartment where I get agua de coco...

This weekend I decided to try some caldo de cana - this is juice they get from putting sugar cane through a press. I'm not really a fan... it had kind of a hint of corn flavor to me. I'm going to stick with my coconut water. Here's what it looked like.

Versus the coconut water... which looks like hazy water.

You may have noticed I got my hair cut! I asked Simone, who owns the nail salon I go to, for a recommendation, so she made an appointment for me on Feb 8. The salon is in the Center Vale mall, and it looks pretty typical. Next time I go (I already have another appointment) I'll take some pics. The lady who cut my hair, Fenty, is from Indonesia but has lived in Brazil 16 years. She speaks really good English. I love the cut and she was delightful! 

Last Saturday 2/14 (it's not Valentine's Day here) I drove to Mogi and met the people I'm training at the plant, Gerceline and Rafael, along with Ge's cousin and Rafa's wife, for dinner. It was an adorable little tiny Mexican restaurant... but y'all, Mexican food around here is not what you want. The quesadilla was good once I stopped thinking of it as a quesadilla (too many expectations), but the "sour cream" and "guacamole" were just terrible. And the chips were like little rocks. Oh well... we had a really fun night anyway!! 

We went to one of these "Mexican" ice cream places that are very trendy here (we all agree that no such places exist in Mexico)... all they sell is the popsicles, which I thought was lame until I tried the popsicle. Oh my lawd it was good. The one I got was passion fruit & condensed milk... which turned out to mean passion fruit on the outside with condensed milk filling. Good lawd it was tasty.

Have I mentioned I've been getting my nails done every Saturday? In USD, with current exchange rate, a mani/pedi is about $18.75. Including tip (they don't really tip here, but I can't help it), $26. Not too shabby...

Along with the nails in this pic is some acai... it's soooo good.

Another indulgence... Lindsay Todd recommended a massage therapist to me that I had an appointment with yesterday (and will have another one for the remaining Saturdays that I'm here). She brings the table to your house, and a package of 10 massages cost R$400... which at the exchange rate I got the cash I used out at, is $15 for an hour massage. That you don't have to leave home for. And she's really good. What??? I gave an extra R$100 because I feel like I'm taking advantage of her!!! Including that, it's just over $18 per session.

Ok, but here's the thing - so obviously people here get paid a lot less for the same job as they do in the  US. And yes, food is a little less expensive here. But... "stuff" costs way more. Like a car here costs 2-3 times as much compared to the same car in the US. Even if it's made here. So how to people even manage?? I've asked that question to a few Brazilians and their answer is... "exactly." There are tons of people walking down the highway, crossing the highway, every morning and night for work. Something is wrong with this picture.

And along those same lines (sorry if you already saw this on facebook), I made a comment at work last week about not being excited about driving from work in the rain, and this guy I work with said that he loves driving in the rain. Of course I couldn't imagine why and said so. He said it made him think about all the years he had to walk in it. And that, my friends, is perspective.

Day 161: Mom says I have to blog

I have a confession to make... I've been binge-watching The Good Wife on Netflix every stinking minute I've been in the apartment. I'm down to the last few episodes so I guess I can peel myself away long enough to fill you in on the last... month. Sorry Mom.

Jan 31 I went to Sao Paulo with Jackie, hubby Rafael, and adorable niece Akemi. We went to Parque do Ibirapuera and walked around what I understand to be a tiny portion of it. It is kind of awesome - there's a HUGE covered concrete area where people skateboard, rollerblade, and whatever else on small wheels. Also of course there were some booths set up with people selling stuff - I think I've completed my casual bag collection. Also note-worthy: I didn't get a pic, but I saw a girl wearing a t-shirt that said:

Once upon a time

F--- you

The end

Except the F--- was written out. Later the same week I passed a guy walking down the street whose shirt said "I just want to f--- you". Also spelled out. The first one I thought was funny, the second was pretty rude, right? Isn't it funny that you don't really see that word on much clothing at home, but here, it's a thing?

Jackie & Rafael - I thought this tree was really cool.

There was a big group of people practicing their Zumba routine for Carnaval.

We went to a modern art museum in the park where I liked the art on the outside of the building better than the art inside...

We went to the Afro Brazilian Art Museum which was cool.

I love this painting.

After we left the park, we ate Japanese for lunch, then shopped and walked around a bit.

So I just noticed there's totally a Little Person in this pic - I don't know if that was the goal of the pic or not!!